If Love Were All

by Miss Nile

When Kalin killed that security officer, almost everybody forgave him for it. But what if there was a certain person who didn't, and that person was someone Kalin cared for the most?

2. Chapter 2: Drifting Into Memories

Yugisun: Thank you for reviewing! Haha, yes, I am pretty sure about your last statement. Regarding dueling, I don't really focus much on it in this story. It's supposed to be a romance/adventure one after all, but I will do my best whenever the chance comes. ^^

Chapter Two

-Drifting into Memories-

"Looks like it was a breeze for both of you, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess it was. I mean, we're good friends after all."

I could see them, that guy with violet eyes and blonde hair, and that guy with raven hair and yellow highlights…and those blue eyes.

I slowly began to open my eyes and be aware of what's surrounding me. My head was aching really badly, I felt like things were spinning around me 100 times in a second. But eventually I began to focus and my vision returned to normal, but unfortunately the headache I had didn't.

I only realized a few minutes afterwards where were I. A nice, little cozy room that I pretty much recognized as the room I was supposed to stay in with Okita and Liquid. I was laying down on one of the beds, but there wasn't any other person in the room. I tried to remember how did I end up here, but the last image in my head was that of the black-haired guy with the blue eyes…Oh god! The moment I remembered that, my head began to ache again like crazy, and I had to press on it with both of my hands in pain and just try to pull the matter out of my head. I could have sworn I even dreamed of him, with another guy along…but why, or who were those, I hadn't the least idea.

Just in time, Liquid and Okita opened the door and entered the room. Seeing me awake and sitting up, they approached me with a smile. Okita was the first one to speak up,

"Oh you're awake. How are you feeling now?"

I wasn't feeling really okay because of the headaches I were having a little ago, but I didn't want these guys to know about them. So trying to smile a little, I replied,

"I-I am alright now. Thanks for the question. Umm…what exactly happened to me?"

Liquid spoke up this time and replied to my question, "We found you unconscious near the field in the Stadium. You seemed completely out of it." I stared at him but I wasn't really surprised to hear this. Remembering the pain I had felt before I blacked out, it was only normal I would completely pass out.

"If this is how it begins for you, I don't think your future could be very bright…" He continued.

I couldn't help but blush in embarrassment although I was completely confused by what he meant. Luckily, he didn't give me a chance to show that I was confused as he continued,

"Anyways, this is your training day, isn't it? You should get ready to go there then."

Oh god. Why things there were getting only more confusing? I looked at him puzzled, wanting to ask him what the hell did he mean by training.

He noticed this of course and raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't tell me you don't know," He said it in a way that made me feel like he was blaming me. "Today is the day you go to the training area so that you can get prepared for being helped controlling your powers. They need to test your dueling skills first and all."

Not like he was helping. But for some reason, it seemed right to me that I shouldn't show that I was confused, and just listen to what they said.

"Alright…where should I do that training?"

Okita then replied this time, "It's in a building just to the east of here. So close that I don't you think you'd miss it."

Later that day, I headed towards what I thought was the training building. It was very near to the main Arcadia Movement Headquarters, just a few steps far to the east of it. I entered the building and headed inside. It was huge but mostly empty; the grounds were made into duel fields, and there weren't much around that could be described. A little while later I saw two short-haired women looking at my direction. They didn't wait till I reached them, as they were coming towards me as soon as they noticed my presence. It seemed like they were actually waiting for me, or so I thought anyways.

"Hello, Evelyn Logon, I assume?" one of them greeted me. She had short green hair, but its bangs were long enough that I couldn't see her eyes. I did my best to smile and replied,

"Ahh yes, I am Evelyn. You can call me Eva."

I preferred to be called by this name anyways…for some reason. The woman smiled, and then said,

"Well then, Eva. I am here for your training. Today you will be having two types of training. The first one is going to be with me, and the second is going to be with Nino here."

She gestured to the other woman who stood near her. She didn't look much different from the one whom I was talking to, her hair bangs covering her eyes as well, but it was grey, not green.

I nodded slowly and replied, "Alright…I am ready for the training, whatever it might be."

She smiled and replied, "I like your spirit. Let us begin then. In this training, I shall give you five duel puzzles, of which three you choose to solve. Once you solve the three, you're good to go."

I understood that well and said I was ready, and then she presented me 5 puzzles. I took the three I thought were the easiest, although they pretty much were tricky still. You might say that choosing the easiest I wasn't up for a challenge, but when you are trying to remember who you were and where you were, I don't think you are up for any sort of a challenge.

It took me a few tries to get them done, but I finally was. The woman smiled at me as she said,

"Good going. Alright then, you've passed this test. You've got a good head, but it still needs some fixing so it can get out all it got."

I blushed slightly and thanked her, then headed towards the other woman; Nino.

"Well, well, alright. Since you are ready, my dear, it is better to get started and not waste any time. This training is structure deck training. You know what a structure deck is now, don't you?"

"A deck that focuses on one attribute or one kind of monsters…am I right?"

"Close. A structure deck is a deck that focuses on one strategy or the same kind of monsters as you said. The reason for this training, is to know how can you deal with different kinds of cards. Ready then?"

I nodded, so she continued, "You are going to choose one deck of these," she presented me a box which had small packs of decks inside, "and duel me with it. Choose what you think you can duel with the best. Whatever you like."

I took a quick look at the box and then I found one deck that caught my eye. It was called "Shining Radiance". Apparently, a deck based on light fairy-type monsters. Good enough for me.

The duel took us some time, but I managed to pull a win using a lucky draw. I still don't know what would I have done if I didn't draw the card I needed, but there was no need to think about that, I suppose.

"Congratulations. You passed it," Nino said as she deactivated her duel disk, "Not bad skills. Some polishing and you'd be good enough."

I blushed and then excused myself, and went out of the training building. I was worn out after all what went through the day, and I was looking forward for some rest for my brain, for perhaps I might remember anything. Unfortunately, I wasn't lucky enough to get something as simple as some rest, because as I was walking in the Arcadia's halls, I saw Sayer walking up to me. And of course, the same shiver ran through my body.

"Well, well, it looks like you are finished with your training, Miss Evelyn," I couldn't hide my look from him, but not like he seemed to care, "but we are not quite done here yet. I need you to do me a small favor. Will you follow me, please?"

That wasn't much of a request, it was more of a command, something inside me told me that. And as I didn't have much choice, I simply followed him.

He led me through the halls till we reached some room, which apparently was his office, where he entered first and I followed suit. Inside, we weren't alone. Remember that red-haired girl? Yes, it was Akiza. She was inside waiting for us.

"I know this is probably unexpected now, Miss Evelyn," Sayer started, "but I'd like of you to duel Akiza, to help her with her psychic powers. And, you can consider it some training for you, too."

I silently growled. I really had enough training for that day, wasn't I able to have some rest? Apparently not.

"You are still in no perfect condition, so don't overdo it, Akiza." Sayer said as he backed away from us, making us space so that we begin this duel. Akiza nodded obediently, and replied, "Don't worry about me, Sayer."

As we stood across each other for the first time, she said, "Thanks for dueling me. I appreciate it."

She wasn't that bad, I thought. She seemed nice enough, despite her cold and distant looking appearance.

"Let's duel!"

Akiza: 4000

Eva: 4000

"Allow me to go first!" Akiza said as she drew her first card. "I summon Twilight Rose Knight, in attack mode!"

(ATK 1000/DEF 1000/3 Star/Warrior/Dark/Tuner)

"And next, thanks to its special ability, I can now special summon a level 4 or lower plant-type monster from my hand, so welcome Lord Poison!"

(ATK 1500/DEF 1000/4 Star/Plant/Water)

"I shall tune now my level 3 Twilight Rose Knight, with my level 4 Lord Poison, so I can Synchro summon…!"

A giant monster appeared before my eyes, it was mostly black but beautiful red petals surrounded it, as the thorn tails came from around it; it looked fantastic. But as much as it did, it also looked dangerous; deadly.

"Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!"

(ATK 2400/DEF 1600/7 Star/Dragon/Fire)

"Next, I shall place two cards facedown, and that's all for my turn."

"That makes it my move!" I drew my first card, and then after a moment of thinking, I continued,

"Say hello to Krebons!" I said as I put the card on the duel disk, and the monster came out.

(ATK 1200/DEF 400/2 Star/Psychic/Dark/Tuner)

"Next, I am going to set two cards facedown and it's your turn."

"This is not even half a challenge; guess it's going to be too easy," she said as she drew her card, then continued, "Black Rose Dragon, finish off that little psychic monster of hers!"

"Krebons' effect now activates! By paying 800 of my life points, I can negate your attack completely."

Akiza: 4000

Eva: 3200

"Humph, wasting time. I end my turn."

"My turn now!" I drew my card, and it turned out to be a pretty good one actually. "I summon Pandaborg in attack mode!"

(ATK 1700/DEF 1400/4 Star/Psychic/Water)

"Not matter how many monsters you have, nothing will stand against my Black Rose Dragon!" Akiza confidently said, but not like I didn't have a plan in my head.

"Now I am going to tune my level 4 Pandaborg with my level 2 Krebons!"

As the two monsters twirled together in the green circles, my monster was formed, "Welcome, Psychic Nightmare!"

A dark-looking dragon was formed out of the two monsters, with green highlights surrounding it all. With evil looks, it looked fatal.

(ATK 2400/DEF 1800/6 Star/Psychic/Dark)

"Not bad, but not good enough." She quickly said but then I replied, "I activate my monster's effect! I am now allowed to choose one card in your hand randomly and call its type, and if I call it right," I smirked, "my monster shall gain 1000 ATK points till the end phase of your turn."

"My turn?" She seemed annoyed, but confident still.

"Yes, your turn. And I am going to choose this card!" I pointed to the card in the middle and after some seconds of thought, I continued, "It is a monster."

She growled, I couldn't hear her do so but I was pretty sure she did. She showed me that card, and I was right. Dandylion it was.

I swear I could have jumped of happiness, but of course I didn't. I kept my composure and continued, "Right! Now my monster has 3400 ATK points, enough to blow up your dragon!"

The Psychic Nightmare rushed forward towards the female dragon, the both clashing into a mortiferous battle, but the psychic monster being much stronger, finished the Black Rose Dragon in a deadly blow.

Akiza: 3000

Eva: 3200

"How do you like it?" I said confidently as I saw my monster destroy hers so easily. However, she didn't seem to be much moved or affected. "I shall end my turn then."

"My draw!" She drew her card, but as she looked at it, she wasn't much pleased or so I thought anyways. "You are lucky today, but just not enough. Activate trap, Call of the Haunted! And of course, you know which monster I am going to revive, don't you? Black Rose Dragon is back!"

The black dragon appeared once more, vicious as ever. "But my monster is still stronger, if you don't notice." I said so although I was pretty sure she had a plan.

"I am not that stupid, you know," she smirked and continued, "I activate my lovely dragon's ability! Now by removing Lord Poison from my graveyard, I can take down your monster's attack points to 0!"

"What!" I couldn't hide my surprise then to such a strong effect.

"That's right, now Black Rose Dragon, do your thing!"

Her dragon then directed its thorn tails around my Psychic Nightmare, crippling it completely and I saw as my monster weakened, its points dropping down to 0.

"I am not finished yet, because now I am summoning my little Dandylion!"

(ATK 300/DEF 300/3 Star/Plant/Earth)

"You are lucky I have no stronger monster, but I am not giving down on you! Dandylion, attack her Nightmare Psychic!"

You can imagine how my expression would be, when one of my strongest monsters were destroyed so easily by a little plant. But I wasn't going to let my monster go to waste simply like that and leave my field wide open.

"Trap card, activate! Past Image!" I said as I activated the facedown card I had, "Now if I control a psychic monster, which I still do, I can remove from play one of your monsters till the next standby phase. And of course, that monster is your Black Rose Dragon!"

Now I had thought that my move would annoy her, at least a little, but there was no sign of annoyance at all. In fact, she smiled and replied, "I have a little trap to play, too. Activate, Trap Jammer!"

I was horrified for a moment, for that meant that I was going to feel a taste of Akiza's monster's power. I helplessly watched as my monster was merely destroyed by the little Dandylion.

Akiza: 3000

Eva: 2900

"Now, Black Rose Dragon, attack her directly!"

All open, her dragon viciously summoned a giant ball of fire from its mouth and rushed it at me, and before I could even know it, I was soon flying backwards till I hit one of the pillars behind me. God, that impact almost crushed my body that I have no idea how I wasn't divided into pieces then. It was only then that I remembered; Akiza was a psychic duelist; her powers were real.

"Oh god, are you alright? I-I am so sorry, I didn't mean to-" I could barely hear her voice as she came rushing to me to make sure I was okay, and although I wasn't that much in a bad shape, I felt a pain in every single part of my body.

"It looks like you still need some rest, Akiza. That's enough training for today." It was Sayer who spoke up then and interrupted her.

"But, Sayer…" He didn't give her a chance to continue, as he quickly said,

"I am sure Miss Evelyn here is going to be alright. Get some rest, Akiza."

She didn't argue anymore, but with one more apologetic look at me, she said, "Yes, Sayer."

She went out of the office after that.

I had gotten up to my feet then, but still looked weak and tired. Sayer looked to me and said, "Thank you for doing this, Miss Evelyn. You may go and rest now."

I don't remember much of what happened next, I was tired and once I went back to my room I fell asleep on the coach. It was a long, deep sleep that I don't remember even having one like it a long time ago…if I could remember anything from that time.

The next morning, I was told that I have to go to the Highway, and there I would have some riding training. Liquid seemed to have the same type of training, so he came along with me. I was a little nervous, I had never ridden a duel runner before, or so I thought anyways. I didn't remember much now, did I?

I met a man there who said was responsible for that training, and he led me to a duel runner I was supposed to take the test on. He said he'd see how were my basic skills were first, before going on anywhere.

To his surprise and more importantly to mine, I didn't have any troubles riding it. In fact, I rode it so smoothly and well, leave out some mistakes here and there but overall, I did a good job. I was beginning to think that it may have not been my first time, but as far as I remembered, I didn't really ride a duel runner before.

"Nice time! If you continue on like this, you will be in excellent shape really soon!" The instructor praised me with this, causing me to blush a little.

Liquid didn't leave without compliments either, saying, "Very nice, Eva! You didn't ride like a newbie at all. Come on now, be honest…you've ridden some time before, right?"

Honestly, if I knew, I would have told him. But because I didn't, I simply shook my head and replied, "I don't think so, Liquid. I guess I am just a natural."

Liquid nodded and replied, "Yeah, I know. You wouldn't keep something like that. Come on, let's get going now. I am done here, too."

And just as we were on our way walking back, I saw the last person I expected to see. Remember that raven-haired guy I saw before, and who still haunted my dreams and my few memories? He was there, right in front of me.

"Eva!" He spoke up as he looked towards me with a clearly surprised look, "Is that you?"

He seemed to know me, and to know me well, but I didn't have the least idea of who he was. And as he finished saying his last word, that same pain came back to my head once more. But this time, much, much stronger. I backed out in pain as I put my hands around my head and a flashback ran through my head,

"I've tuned up the prototype Duel Runner I was holding on to you."

"Eva, you take your duel runner and go ahead! Get a move on!"

"Hey! It's Eva! How is it goin'?"

I could see them all, I could see three guys I thought I knew...That raven-haired guy, and an orange-haired other with a weird mark on his forehead and lastly…a silver-haired guy, with intense amber eyes that I remembered most well…

I was awoken up of my memories however by Liquid's voice,

"You don't look so hot…Are you okay? Do you know that guy, Eva?"

I looked at him again; heart beating fast and my head feeling the most hurtful stings of pain. He looked worried, too, as he looked in my direction and said,

"Eva, are you okay?"

I wasn't given a chance to think anymore however, as the red-haired Sayer had come running to us. I wasn't really aware of what was going around any longer, but I could hear him say faintly,

"Well, if it isn't Yusei Fudo! How about it you stay out of my business!"

Yusei…Fudo…

"Somebody take her back to the headquarters!" He said, I could hear, and I was pretty sure by 'her' he meant me. Liquid was as confused as I was but helplessly, he held on to me gently and led me back, me no longer aware of what was going on around me. I could hear him calling once more however; I could hear his voice ever so faintly,

"Eva!"

A/N: I would love some reviews and feedback on the duel especially, and on the whole thing generally. I would love feedback on the atmosphere and feelings throughout the chapter and any other thing that could be improved in your opinion. Thank you for reading. ^^